Head-to-head · Digital Painting Software
Krita vs Corel Painter
Krita leads on 1 check, Corel Painter on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreKrita · 9.4/10
- Free planonly Krita
- Free trialonly Corel Painter
- Most featuresCorel Painter · 3 of 4
Krita scores higher on our rubric for digital painting software: 9.4 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.
Krita offers free plan; Corel Painter doesn't.
Krita is the better fit for professional-grade painting on major desktop OSes. Corel Painter is the better fit for natural-media painters seeking advanced brush control.
- Krita fits best
Professional-grade painting on major desktop OSes
- Corel Painter fits best
Natural-media painters seeking advanced brush control
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Side by side
| Feature | Krita 9.4/10 Visit ↗ | Corel Painter 9.0/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.4 | 9.0 |
| Ranking | #1 in Digital Painting Software | #4 in Digital Painting Software |
| Best for | Professional-grade painting on major desktop OSes | Natural-media painters seeking advanced brush control |
| Pricing model | Free | Paid |
| Starting price | Free plan | — |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | 30 days |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Windows, macOS |
| Features Krita 0/4 · Corel Painter 3/4 | ||
| Brush customization | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Layer support | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Pressure sensitivity | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Stroke stabilization | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Supported platforms | Not checked yet | Windows, macOS |
| Color management | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Krita is a free, open-source digital painting application for illustrators, comic artists, concept artists, animators, and other digital creators. Its toolkit covers raster painting, brush engines, vector layers, layer and mask-based… Read the review → |
Corel Painter is desktop digital painting software for illustrators, fine artists, concept artists, and photo artists. Its focus is natural-media simulation, with brushes for Fluid Paint, watercolor, oils, and particles alongside custom… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Krita — where it wins
- Free GNU GPL v3 application with commercial use permitted
- Raster, vector, layers, masks, color management, and animation tools
- Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android tablets in beta
Where it doesn't
- Android tablet version is still in beta
- No iOS or iPadOS support
- Extensive features may exceed the needs of simple painting workflows
Corel Painter — where it wins
- Extensive natural-media brushes, including oils, watercolor, and particles
- Detailed brush creation with pressure, tilt, bearing, and rotation support
- Photoshop workflows, composition guides, layers, and tablet compatibility
Where it doesn't
- Paid software with no free plan
- Desktop support is limited to Windows and macOS
- Advanced controls may be more than artists seeking a simple painting tool need
- Krita9.4/10 · Free plan
A broad, professional-grade painting toolkit with no paid plan and wide platform coverage.
Visit KritaFull verdict → - Corel Painter9.0/10 · 30-day trial
A deep digital painting studio for artists who want natural-media brush simulation.
Visit Corel PainterFull verdict →
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All digital painting software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update